So I say, I say “Wait a minute… How come REI supports income streams so much better than Stock / Bond portfolios if it has the same return as stocks?”

Interest from a bank account is taxed differently than interest from a t-bond and different from a municipal bond.

Make sure you don’t have any lengthy due diligence items.  

You should also check to ensure they have Errors & Omissions insurance, Fidelity Bond coverage, and a Financial Institution Blanket Bond.Some are more consultative and advisory and provide guidance, while others are just processors. 

They are still at a discount to the 10 year treasury bond (i.e. market trends indicate they will continue to escalate).

It is easiest to see this principle in bonds.The 10 year bond has a higher yield than the 3 year, which has a higher yield than the 1 year, which has a higher yield than the 3 month.

I believe it was said in James Bond movie, Casino Royale "It's not about the money, it's about knowing who you can trust".

The course came with PDF texts (not books) and a very lengthy excel sheet to memorize and tackle on my own.

The original investment was a bond?

In addition, 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediaries are generally not required to be bonded, insured or maintain any other form of minimum equity capitalization.